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shocked expressions that stole over the faces of his seniors as he described the circumstances of
Burden-carries-Far s death and the subsequent killing in self-defense of the Shirazian. It was with
im-mense relief that he concluded, sat down, and listened dully while Stands-while-Sitting presented her
report in concert with the audiovisual recordings she d made while on the surface. The delight the senior
staff would ordinarily have experienced at the sight of the true clear sky, the great fur-needled trees, the
fascinating alien flora and fauna, was mitigated by what they had already been told. Thus the perceptible
air of apprehension that came over the room when the first images of the native dwelling appeared on the
projection wall.
Looks had prepared them as best he knew how, but the room was still filled with uncharacteristic
expressions of shock and dismay as the interlude with the native unfurled. Stands-while-Sitting s recorder
had been running con-stantly since they d entered the native dwelling, and while the image skewed wildly
with her movements, the recorder s stabilizer still held it steady enough to show the advancing
Burden-carries-Far, the explosion at the end of the metal tube, and Looks s response.
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Several of the Seniors required immediate medical treatment. There was a pause before the recording
resumed, but the journey back to the survey site was all anticlimax.
When everyone had recovered sufficiently from the initial shock, the en-counter sequence was replayed
at normal speed, then slowly, and then was rotated to provide as many different perspectives on the
action as possible. Only then did Lifts-with-Shout lean toward his pickup and speak.
 You are certain there were no other natives in the vicinty? That neither you nor the ship was observed?
 We cannot be certain of anything, Looks-at-Charts pointed out,  but we have discussed the matter
and believe that except for the single Shirazian we encountered the area was uninhabitated. It was a
solitary encounter that took place in a solitary dwelling out of line of hearing and sight of any other
Shirazian habitation. In that respect we were fortunate.
 What of the world itself? The Captain s voice was a grim whisper.
Stands-while-Sitting rose.  The water is mineral-rich but drinkable. The air is fresh and clean and the
proportions conform to measurements made from orbit. As you saw, the smaller native flora and fauna
appear harmless enough. The trees are unique, but they are true trees, as true as any on Quoziene. They
are soothing to touch and to smell. This is a world worthy of worship. A world meant for Quozl.
 Except we didn t get here first, muttered Lifts-with-Shout. He stared at Looks-at-Charts.  You didn t
by any chance bring the alien weapon back
with you? -
 No. Wondering if they d made a serious mistake, he glanced over and down at Stands-while-Sitting
for support. One ear flicked briefly in his direc-tion and he relaxed a little.  We thought it important to
leave the native s dwelling as undisturbed as possible.
 It is unlikely that anyone, Stands-while-Sitting added,  would connect the native s disappearance with
the presence of offworld visitors, but we thought it best not to leave reason for speculation.
 You did the right thing. Both of the Landing Supervisor s ears drooped sadly.  But in this instance I
wish you d done the wrong thing.
Looks-at-Charts replied calmly.  I had time to make a thorough inspection of the device. It hurls small
metal projectiles with penetrating force. Primi-tive, but it kills as efficiently as any modern weapon. The
devices the natives employ against one another are, I am told by staff, similiar except in scale.
 Horrible, muttered one of the senior staff members.
 Uncivilized, sniffed another.
 Once we called such actions part of our own civilization, until we gained the wisdom of the Samizene
and matured. Stream-cuts-Through surveyed the chamber.  This is the first non-Quozl intelligence, that [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]